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Walnuts: odd figures

May 18, 2026 at 12:22 PM , Der AUDITOR
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SANTIAGO. Chile’s exports of in-shell walnuts set off to a slow start to the season. For shelled walnuts, the opposite is the case as the April Shipment report issued by ChileNut highlights.

Slow start for in-shell exports

With a 19% slump on last year, Chile’s inshell exports were off to a slow start in April, the first month of the new season. Yet, as ChileNut highlights they still range higher than in April 2024. Morocco has replaced Turkey as leading destination with shipments more than tripling. By contrast, exports to Turkey have slumped by a stunning 61%. In fact, the Middle East/Africa is the only region to which shipments have risen since last year, namely by 4% to a subtotal of 1,330 mt.

Italy is next in line with a noted 31% decline. Spain is also showing a 22% downturn and shipments to the UK are 5% down. Russia is back in the game and shipments to Portugal are flat. While Europe was the main trading partner for Chile last year, shipments have dropped by 23% to 883 mt. Subtotal shipments to Asia have declined to zero and to America by as much as 85% to as little as 22 mt.

Walnut exports, Chile, inshell (mt)

Destination

2025

2026

Diff.

Morocco

239

912

281.6%

Italy

877

606

-30.9%

Turkey

1,017

398

-60.9%

Spain

152

118

-22.4%

Ecuador

41

22

-46.3%

UK

21

20

-4.8%

Lebanon

0

20

-

Russia

0

19

-

Portugal

18

18

0.0%

Others

409

102

-25.1%

Total

2,774

2,235

-19.4%

ChileNut, 01/04-30/04

Surge in shelled walnut shipments

Although Chile’s total shelled walnut shipments have surged by 52%, only three destinations are listed. America has remained the most important export region with shipments nearly doubling to 198 mt. As shipments to Brazil have risen more than sevenfold the country has become the main trading partner for Chile.

Russia is the only destination in Europe to have purchased shelled walnuts in Chile. At 20,000 mt exports to Europe as a region stand as much as 56% lower than last year. Chile also shipped 2 mt to Asia/Oceania but nothing to the Middle East/Africa.

Walnut exports, Chile, shelled (mt)

Destination

2025

2026

Diff.

Brazil

21

150

614.3%

Ecuador

34

39

14.7%

Russia

0

20

-

Others

90

11

-87.8%

Total

145

220

51.7%

ChileNut, 01/04-30/04

 

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